Lessons from a Lean Consultant

6. Lean Training Programs

Training new and existing employees takes on a whole new meaning when an organization embarks on a lean journey. Often, companies do not train or invest in their employees in general, and that can have a negative impact on the company’s overall performance. When you take a lean journey, you must formally train new and existing employees to ensure that they understand lean manufacturing and know how it is being applied in their factory.

As you implement lean principles and areas of the factory are working under the controlled conditions of 5S and standard work, training helps workers adjust to their new environment. All new employees, including newly hired operators, supervisors, engineers, and managers, must go through ...